Identified! KY - Eddyville, Lake Barkley, WhtMale 35-50, UP75, wrapped in tire chains anchored by hydraulic jack, May’99 - Roger Dale Parham (Wanted by FBI)

[carbuff]

So Tennessee is upstream? I guess that means the body could have floated down quite a distance?

 

[momrids6]

like had him declared dead without a body?

After seeing what Michael Chambers' wife did, nothing surprises me anymore. And, some people wouldn't bother with all that if they can get or have access to the money already.

 

[momrids6]

Interesting this man required so much dental work early in life.

I don't think he was that young, but that's strictly my opinion. If I had the money, I would have plenty of that work done by now. Genetics, poverty, accident?

 

[Trudie]

Dbm

 

[Trudie]

So Tennessee is upstream? I guess that means the body could have floated down quite a distance?

I assume so. I’m more inclined to think he wasn’t put out in Lake B, but only my opinion.
Barge traffic is heavy in KY/OH area. I constantly see barge accidents in the news. Whenever crossing the Cumberland or Ohio rivers one sees many barges.

 

[Trudie]

I hope one day all the Doe’s can be returned to someone......

 

[carbuff]

Thanks, that's useful information. It's not something I would ever have guessed from a thousand miles away.

 

[Trudie]

Thanks, that's useful information. It's not something I would ever have guessed from a thousand miles away.

Thsnks, but I’m only guessing, tossing ideas around. Like most of you, I think he’s from a long way off, not KY, TN, OH, IN. Maybe Texas or Louisiana.
Life on a barge can be rough from what I’m told. If there happens to be personality conflicts, things can get rowdy.
A barge would certainly have equipment & wiring.
Idk if an autopsy would show if he drowned? I would think so because of water in the lungs but the report says COD could not be determined. Was he alive but unconscious when put in the water?
Also, I think based on weather, lock activity, water levels & so forth, authorities might have an idea of where he went in the water.
So many people live on Lake B, I don’t think he was deposited near the shoreline. Even if the weather is cold people are out & about, kids playing, dog walkers, joggers & yes people still boat in the winter.
Moo

 

[MadMcGoo]

A barge. Something I would have never thought of either. I don’t know, but if I had to guess, I’d say they were similar to the oil fields around here, only on the water. Not all oil field workers are criminals or lead rough life styles, but if you’ve ever lived around them, you’ll know the stereotypes are too far off. (IMO and experience)

“Roughnecks”, as they’re commonly referred to as, go missing quite often and are even found murdered, and it can go entirely unreported in the media. So if life on a barge is anything like that, I can definitely see that happening. It’s like Watts I guess, under different circumstances, his crimes could have easily gone unnoticed for years because of where he tried hiding his victims. (I don’t even wanna go there but it’s the best reference I could think of)

Now I’m interested in how his body, with all that weight, could have traveled from anywhere else. I don’t doubt that it could happen, but I’m not familiar with the area and even less with the waterways. It does sound like some of the lakes around here in that a boating accident could happen and a helicopter have to land on the docks to life-flight someone out, and most people wouldn’t bat an eye. Other than to take a quick photo with their phone to post on Instagram.

It’s good to have all these details about the lake!

 

[MadMcGoo]

I still don’t think he’s all that young either. Forty, at least. His dental work doesn’t look to me like something he’d have done due to an accident or any kind of trauma. It actually looks about like I think mine would look like - the first time I had decent health insurance, I had a lot of work done on my teeth. Nothing major, but several fillings of cavities I’d led go for too long and some corrective work due to a fracture caused by the inept dentist. lol. It did cost me, but because of the insurance, not as much out of pocket. I don’t know anything about dentistry but that’s what I thought of

 

[Trudie]

Roughnecks”, as they’re commonly referred to as, go missing quite often and are even found murdered, and it can go entirely unreported in the media. So if life on a barge is anything like that, I can definitely see that happening.

I think some barge workers or fishermen are gone for so long they easily lose contact with family & have no home base. Sure many do return home regularly, but some live the life, giving up a conventional life. My friend has worked on a barge for 25 years & would prefer to die on a barge. He makes excellent money. By choice he’s gone 90 days, then one month off. His one month off usually winds up being a week. Why? because he’s addicted and will hop a barge, sacrificing off time. Also, he has friends all over, so when he does begin his leisure time he might hop off in NOLA, Memphis or Vevay, IN. Another thing, if they suddenly quit or get fired, they can find another company to start with immediately.

 

[MadMcGoo]

I think some barge workers or fishermen are gone for so long they easily lose contact with family & have no home base. Sure many do return home regularly, but some live the life, giving up a conventional life. My friend has worked on a barge for 25 years & would prefer to die on a barge. He makes excellent money. By choice he’s gone 90 days, then one month off. His one month off usually winds up being a week. Why? because he’s addicted and will hop a barge, sacrificing off time. Also, he has friends all over, so when he does begin his leisure time he might hop off in NOLA, Memphis or Vevay, IN. Another thing, if they suddenly quit or get fired, they can find another company to start with immediately.

Yah, sounds exactly like what I was talking about. Again, I know not all of them are criminals...but the general premise gives me a little more perspective about Lake Barkley...which I need a lot of apparently

 

[Trudie]

Another thing that makes me think barge is the tennis shoes & double (2) wind breaker type jackets.
Personally, I think it’d be easy for a barge employee to have a scuffle & toss a counterpart overboard. Especially if a lot of the crew were sleeping. Knock someone out, bundle them up and that’s it. Of course the captain might be curious and ask “where’s John”, but idk if they would want to report. I know around here barges will allow people to ride. They are not supposed to but not all captains follow the rules. It is a very itinerant lifestyle for sure.

 

[Trudie]

Yah, sounds exactly like what I was talking about. Again, I know not all of them are criminals...but the general premise gives me a little more perspective about Lake Barkley...which I need a lot of apparently

We also know some people don’t want to be found. They walk away from their previous life. If he worked the barges, he might have abandoned his past for any number of reasons.
Also, used to be some barge lines allowed paying passengers. I’ll look tomorrow.
I know in Maysville, KY the crew often pick up women in the bars and if they have the right captain, the chick is suddenly a barge employee.....lol. Moo
From time to time local news reports stowaways found on barges too.

 

[MadMcGoo]

We also know some people don’t want to be found. They walk away from their previous life. If he worked the barges, he might have abandoned his past for any number of reasons.
Also, used to be some barge lines allowed paying passengers. I’ll look tomorrow.
I know in Maysville, KY the crew often pick up women in the bars and if they have the right captain, the chick is suddenly a barge employee.....lol. Moo
From time to time local news reports stowaways found on barges too.

That makes sense...You’ve painted a pretty good picture of the barges! Thank you! I really wouldn’t have thought of it. I just wonder though, with that “go with the flow” (pun intended) type lifestyle, why would someone feel the need to do all this, conceal a body in this manner? Ya know? I can see a scuffle like you described, but wouldn’t it be just ‘throw the man over and keep on going’.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Didn’t see the actual ViCAP link...
ViCAP | Federal Bureau of Investigation

 

[Trudie]

That makes sense...You’ve painted a pretty good picture of the barges! Thank you! I really wouldn’t have thought of it. I just wonder though, with that “go with the flow” (pun intended) type lifestyle, why would someone feel the need to do all this, conceal a body in this manner? Ya know? I can see a scuffle like you described, but wouldn’t it be just ‘throw the man over and keep on going’.

about the semi truck chains, heavy chains are all likely the same, right? How is a semi chain distinguishable from a chain used on water craft or farming implements?

as far as a scuffle, if he was thrown overboard, possibly he had a severe head injury or something, but was still alive, in need of medical attention, but thrown over instead?
It is moo a lot of nefarious activity takes place on barges/tugs. Until they get to the OH I doubt they worry much about the Coast Guard. Since cause of death could not be determined I consider possibly a blow to the head.
Even weighted, a body would drift, correct?
All MOO

 

[Trudie]

I can see a scuffle like you described, but wouldn’t it be just ‘throw the man over and keep on going’.

lol who knows? So many things might have been going on.
Was he tied up prior to death for some reason?
Also, it is MOO that it would take a much heavier weight in a shallow body of water to prevent movement from current, tidal activity, boats & gases formed in a body. So, where was he tossed in? Also, was he dragged behind a boat and released at a certain point?
Wow.....
So many things might have happened. 20 years later, few clues.
Moo

 

[Trudie]

Thanks, that's useful information. It's not something I would ever have guessed from a thousand miles away.

lol and I’m “guessing”. Also, freight gets to boat docks by what? Semi trucks? And what might they use to lift pallets? Jacks? All moo

 

[Valiant]

about the semi truck chains, heavy chains are all likely the same, right? How is a semi chain distinguishable from a chain used on water craft or farming implements?

Size. A truck tire is a much different size than tires used on farming equipment.